Stance on CM is CPI opinion: VS Achuthanandan

 

Mr Achuthanandan was reacting to the former State secretary of CPI, Mr Pannyan Ravindran’s statement that it was not mandatory for the leader of the jatha taken out ahead of the Assembly polls, to be the chief minister.

 

“It is their (CPI) leaders’ opinion. It is that party’s stand”, commented Mr Achuthanandan when reporters raised this here on Thursday.

 

The first shot was fired by CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran the other day by saying that politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, selected to lead the CPM rally, need not be the CM choice after the elections.

 

All those who lead rallies cannot become the chief minister. In which case there should be so many CMs. But a message would have gone out to the people had the LDF organized a rally and someone was selected to lead it, according to Mr Rajendran.

 

He said nothing prevented Mr Achuthanandan from heading the LDF rally. Health, than age, determined such matters in CPI.

 

The reiteration of the CPI stand in the past two days had created a flutter in political circles though the leaders had only stated the obvious. CPM, the principal party in the coalition, would meet after the polls and decide the CM candidate.

 

The new MLAs of the CPM, in the presence of the Central leadership, would elect the leader of the legislature party. Other parties also follow the similar pattern but CPM carries the day because it maintains the largest contingent in the House. Once the CPM decides, the LDF decision follows.

 

But it does not look all that easy now. Mr Achuthanandan is still a force to reckon with. He has not hinted that he will opt out and refrained from snubbing CPI leaders for raising the CM question.